Metal-container sealing-closure-fastening apparatus



Aug. 30, 1927.

F. C. THORNTON METAL CONTAINER SEALING CLOSURE FASTENING APPARATUS.

Filed July 19. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l 5W QW 1,640,585 Aug- 30 1927' F. c. THORNTON METAL CONTAINER SEALING CLOSURE FASTENING APPARATUS Filed July 19. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imre/L for 55d( M y am Aug. 30

F. C. THORNTON METAL CONTAINER SEALING CLOSURE FASTENING APPARATUSv Filed July 19.` 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 In van or 1,640,585 Allg- 30 1927' F. c. THORNTON METAL CONTAINER SEALING CLOSURE FASTENING APPARATUS Filed July 19. l926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 In van for 1,640,585 Aug- 30 1927' F. c.. THORNTON METAL CONTAINER SEALING CLOSURE FASTENING APPARATUS.

Filed July 19. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 39, .1927.

UNiTEo STATES 1,640,585 PATENT yOFFICE.

f FRAX C. THORNTON,l F EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO.

METAL-CONTAINER SEALING-CLOBUBE-FABTENING APPARATUS.

Application fled July 19, 1926. SSerial R0. 123,580.

the container side permitting the cover to` be re-applied to the container by the fastening apparatus.

Other obfec-ts and features of the invention willbe hereinafter pointed out and described.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of the sealing apparatus on line 1-1 .of Fig. 3 showing the clamping ysectors 1n normal open position and applied to a sealing closure on a container partly shown.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the sectors closed in fastening position on the closure and container.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 sector.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the apparatus.

is a detail plan view of a clamping fastening sector.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation looking in the direction of the arrows 7--7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a sealed container and closure showing a closure removing lever detachably secured to the container side.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a sealed container and closure.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the container mouth bead showing the sealing closure fastened thereon in full lines and in dot and dash lines positioned above the container. A closure removing lever is shown in dotted lines applied to' the fastened closure fer remeval thereof.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of a clamping.

Fig. 12 is av perspective of the closure ref moving lever.

Referring to the fastening shown inthe drawings, 4 indicates a base member comprising a ring 5 having an outer depending flange 6 with a peripheral face 7. The base ring 5 is integrally formed with v webs 8 and a central hub 9 having the stud 12 of a post 11 threaded therein as at 10. The post 11 has an enlarged annular shoulder 13 seating on the hub top and a further enlarged iiange portion 14 spaced from the hub top.. The upper end of post 10 has flat side portions 15 anda pin opening 16 for purposes to be hereinafter described.

A plurality'of sector shaped sealing clo'- apparatus sure clamping members 17 are mounted and slidable radially to and from the post 11 on the top of vbase 4 over webs 8. Each clamping sector 17 has an outer arc-shaped depending flange 18 with an inner arc-shaped wall 19 and an arcuate flange 20 extending inwardly from flange 18. The arcuate Harige 2O has a beveled top surface 21 and an inner arc-shaped wall 22 slightly rounded at the intersection with beveled surface 21 as at 23. Thepwall 19 is slightly rounded at the top and bottom thereof and the flange 18 is beveled outwardlyat the bottom. The sector has a reduced body 24 extending toward the post, terminating in an aro-shaped end 25 disposed under the post flange 14 and slidably retained thereby. An` elongated guide slot 26, disposed in each'sector on the middle line thereof, has upper guide walls 27 with lower relieved sides 28 and top raised yparallel slideways 29. Spaced ears 30 having pin openings 31are disposed at the inner ends of the slideways 29.

Each sector 17 is radially guided in relation to the post' center and retained on base 4 by a guide block 32 secured on the base 4 by screws 33. As shown in Figs. 1,2 and 8 the guide blocks 32 have guide sides 34 slidably engaging the sector slot sides 27 and an enlarged top 35 'slidably engaging the sector slideways 29. The outer block ends are extended slightly and have an integral ear 36 thereon with a pin opening 37. A stop pin 38 is mounted on the top of the block.

Each sector 17 is actuated through a togglo comprising a pair ofv links 39 pinned as at 40 to the fixed block ear 36, and a link 4l pinned as at 42. to the sector ear. 30- The i' links 39 and 41 are of equal length and are connected together by a pin 42 to depending links 43 having their upper ends pinned as at 44 to the arms 47 of a spider carriage 46 slidably mounted on post 11 as at 48.

The spider carriage 46 is supported at opposite sides of post 10 by legs 53 and helical compression springs 52 seated on the shoulders of the reduced leg extensions 54 extending through the springs 52 whlch are received in vertical openings 50 in side extensions 49 of the spider casting. The tops of the openings 50 have shoulders 51 for seating the spider on the springs 52. The legs 53 set on post flange 14.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the springs 52 and legs 53 normally hold the spider c arriage 46 in raised or inoperative position, the links 43 lifting link 41 against link 39 holding the sector arcuate flanges 18 and 2O outwardly from ring iiange 6.

Means for contracting the clamping sectors, by depressing the spider carriage and links 43, 39 and 41, comprises oppositely arranged eccentric cams 56 and 57 engagingv a heavy washer 55 about post 11 seated on the top of the spider carriage 46. Each eccentric cam 56 and 57 comprises a web 58 formed integrally with an annular cam face 59 having a flat face 60 and a pin boss 61 located adjacent thereto eccentric with the annular cam face 59. A lever arm- 63 is screw threaded into a boss 64 in the cam and is aligned radially to the center of the annular cam face 59 and at approximately 45 to the fiat face 60. The cams are mounted on a pin 65 secured by cotters 66 in post hole 16 and are arranged on opposite sides of post 11 with the webs 58 positioned and adjacent to the post flat sides 15. yThe compression springs 52 force the spider carriage 46 and washer 55 upward against the cams normally turning the flat face 60 into engagement with the washer 55 maintaining the lever arms 63 upward in Y-shaped relation when in inoperative position.

A hand grip 64 provided for carrying the apparatus and applying to container closures for fastening, is mounted in a yoke 65 secured to the top of post 11 by a bolt 66 and lock nut 67. Y

A type of sheet metal container with sealing closure, to be fastened thereon air and liquid tight with a compressed gasket seal and double friction seals by the fastening apparatus, comprises a sheet metal container having an annular body wall 71 formed with an outwardly extending mouth flange 72, an upwardly extending annular wall 73 with an inwardly rolled annular bead 74. The container bottom is indicated at 71 and the bail at 7 O. The cover closure 75 of sheet metal has an upstanding annular wall 76 with an outwardly extending tiange 77 and `a substantially half round annular bli 78 having spaced .depending fastening lingers 79. An annular rubber gasket 80 of preferabl tubular cross section is carried on wall 6 under iange 77.

In operation to fasten a sealing closure on a container, the closure is first placed on the mouth of the filled container and the fastening apparatus is lifted by its handle 64 and positioned on the closure as shown in Fig. 1 with the periph- .cry 7 of the base ring flange 6 fitting and centering within closure annular wall 76 and the flange base setting on the closure. The bottom sides of the sectors 11 set on the top of the closure bead 78. The cam levers 63 are then forced downward by the operator to the position shown in Fig. 2, the eccentric cams 56 and 57 forcing the washer 55 and carriage 46 downward on post 11, and aga-inst springs 52. The links 43 move downward carrying links 39 into engagement with the top of stop posts 38. The links 41 are moved downward and inward against ears 30 forcing and contracting the clamping sectors 17 inwardly towards post shoulders 13.

The sector arcuate flange walls 22 with i rounded tops'23 when drawn inwardly first engage and bend the closure fingers 79 inwardly. `The beveled walls 21 moving inwardly next act, bending and forcing the fingers under the container fiange 72 simultaneously coactinv with sector walls 19 and base ring wall 7, forcing the closure bead 78 downward tightly around the container bead 74 roviding a. friction seal between the bea s for the closure. The fingers 79 are bent at an angle substantially the same as the beveled walls 21 having a space between the inner nger ends. and the container ange for purposes to be hereinafter described. The squeezing or clamping action of the contracting beveled walls 21 on bead 78 and the downward thrust of fiange 6 on closure top 75 also forces the closure annular wall 76 into a press tit with the container annular mouth wall 71 providing another friction seal between for the closure. Simultaneously the tubular rubber gasket v80 is compressed between closure and container flanges 77 and 72 providing another closure seal. The downward pressure applied on the levers 63 against springs 52 is distributed on the top of closure bead 78 and the closure top 75' co-operating with the beveled walls 21 in effecting tight closure friction seals. The rim 6 of the head forms an abutment for the inward pressure of the contracting members and prevents distortion of the container mouth.

Y After fastening the sealing closure on the container, the cam lever arms 63 are released allowing the springs 52 to return the fastening apparatus parts to their initial posifv bien as. .Shwn .in Fie'- 1 elevating the ,car-

riage 46 and cam lever arms and expanding the sectors 24 permitting the apparatus to be lifted by the handle 64: 0E the sealed container. 4

Means for opening the sealed container is provided by a lever 8l having a hooked end 82. The opposite end is notched oppositely as at 83 providing an end tab 85, the notch sides of the lever portion tapering nearly to a point as at 84. The tab 85 is suitably secured by spot welding or other means to the container at a convenient position for shipping. When desired to open the container, the lever 8l is lifted breaking away from the tab 85 at the point 84. The hooked lever end 82 is positioned over the spaced closure finger end as shown in dotted lines in Fig. ll and the lever is pushed upwardly bending the closure fastening finger 79 downward allowing the closure 7 5 to be lifted off the container 70 as shown in dot and dash lines. The closure may be used over again for sealing the container without reshaping. If the ends of the fastening fingers 79 are bent against the bottom of container flange 72 the pointed lever end 84; may be inserted between, bending the lingers enough for application of the hooked lever end 82.

lVhile I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention, obviously various changes in the proportions and details of construction may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a machine for applying a sheet metal closure to a container having a projecting bead at the top, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon said closure Within said rim, a set of radially movable bending members mounted upon said head andl having depending hook-shaped flanges `at their outer ends adapted to be contracted and bend the edge of the closure under said rim, a post standing on the head, a lever pivoted on the post, and operating connections between the lever and said members adapted to contract said-members inwardly and simultaneously press downwardly on the closure when pressure is applied to the lever.

2. In a machine for applying a closure to a container having a projecting rim, the combination of ahead adapted to lit upon Said closure within said rim, a central post mounted on the head, a set of radial bending members havinghooked fianges at their outer ends, guides on the head for said members, a sleeve slidable up and down on the post, toggle connections between .the sleeve and said membersl to shift the latter inwardly, a spring tending to lift the sleeve and expand the members, and a lever fulcrumed on the post and bearing on the sleeve and adapted to depress the latter and shift said members inwardly to bend the edge of the closure under the rim when pressure is applied to the lever.

3. In a machine for applying a. closure to a container having a projecting rim or bead,

the combination of a head adapted to rest upon said closure within the bead, a set of radially movable members, laving hooked depending iianges at their outer ends between which and the edge of the head the bead and the edge of the closure may be received, and'pressure actuated means mounted on the head to shift said members inwardly and thereby bend the edge of the closure under the bead, and means to return said members to expanded position, the means to contract the members including togqles connected together and levers pivotally mounted on the head and operatively connected to said toggles.

4. In a machine for applying a closure to a container having a projecting rim, the combination of a head adapted to fit upon the closure, a central post mounted on the head, having a projecting shoulder, a set of radially movable members having their inner ends confined under the shoulder and hook-shaped bending Hanges at their outer ends adapted to bend the edge of the closure under said rim, a sliding sleeve on the post, toggle connections between the sleeve and said members, a spring tendingto lift the sleeve to expand said members, and a'lever fulcrumed on the top of the post and pressing on the sleeve and adapted when depressed to lower the sleeve and contract said members.

5. In a machine for applying a closure to a container having a` projecting rim, the combination of a head adapted to fit upon the closure, a central post mounted on the head, having a projecting shoulder, a set of radially movable members having their inner ends confined under the shoulder and hook-shaped bending flanges at their outer lll) ends adapted to bend the edge of the closure l under said rim, a sliding sleeve on the post, toggle connections between the sleeve and said members, a spring tending to lift the sleeve to expand said members, and a lever fulcrumed on the top of the post and pressing on the sleeve, and adapted when depressed to lower the sleeve and contract s'aid members, the post having a handle at the top to hold the machine in position on the closure.

In testimony whereof, I do afiix my signature.

FRANK C. THORNTON. 

